The former player: 'I really hoped to carry on playing'
Warning: This article contains details of racially offensive comments and conduct
Ex-England player Luther Burrell says that speaking out to reveal racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an premature end.
In a June 2022, Burrell characterized racism as being "widespread" in the sport, showing Whatsapp messages and remembering training ground "comments" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.
Then 34 and without a team, Burrell's only elite playing since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.
"I have absolutely had to end my career because of what occurred," he explained to media outlets.
"I hoped to carry on playing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when news came out that there were inquiries going on.
"That was challenging - I had to just come to terms with the fate and understand that this whole process is a lot more important than me."
A sports organization investigation in 2023 found Burrell's allegations were accurate "likely correct", but stated it could not gather sufficient proof to categorically say they occurred at Newcastle.
Luther Burrell played in all of England's international games in 2014-15, but was surprisingly excluded for their squad for the 2015 tournament
Burrell revealed to journalists he also faced discrimination within the England set-up, during a Test career that saw him earn 15 caps after his first game in February 2014.
"I have had multiple traumatic experiences within the national team," he stated.
"Some discrimination and other just outdated thinking that's really unacceptable."
Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.
"This is something that has been disguised as banter and that's been the problem that I've myself suffered and witnessed," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican descent.
"Over a period of time you just learn to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not malicious, but that's incorrect."
Burrell explains he was eventually spurred to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sunscreen on his wrists and ankles "where chains would be placed."
The governing body said Burrell's disclosures had led to "increased scrutiny at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an strategy for the elite level."
"The organization has placed significant focus on diversity and inclusion in rugby union and a great deal of work undertaken both prior and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and shared his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.
"We are ongoing work with teams and stakeholders in the professional game to work for a environment of acceptance but acknowledge this requires patience and is an ongoing process."
Every Prem and women's rugby club now has face-to-face education on creating inclusive cultures, with its effectiveness tracked via specific documentation and feedback.
All England players, including age-grade squads, are trained in being "active bystanders" to intervene and defend others from harmful conduct.
"You should be so proud of what you have accomplished," Burrell's mother Joyce said to him as part of the film about his experiences.
"I know it has had this impact on you and ended your playing days, but in our view, you have achieved so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."
Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister passed away recently.
Burrell, who grew up on a social housing in Huddersfield, maintains his work to make the sport more open.
His charitable organization works to connect with young people in under-served communities and help them thrive both on the pitch with complimentary sports training, guidance and nutrition education.
"My personal motivations are genuine, I want to see the progress of the game and if others is willing to share their experience then I'll persist to fight that fight because I'm not just doing this for myself," he explained.
"We have an obligation to make the game as excellent as it can be and the more I talk about it perhaps the more confident fellow players will become about sharing their personal experiences as well.
"I take the bull by the opportunity and keep bearing this banner and continue supporting this responsibility and do what I can to develop possibilities and make the game more attractive and more inclusive.
"There are a lot of underprivileged young people and a lot of poverty and I sincerely think that the sport has the potential to change their lives, just as it did for me."
Burrell scored a try for the Barbarians on a return to former club Northampton in November 2022
